Are the contacts clean and snappy? One pair supplies the drive voltage to both the VR and AF-S systems and oxide or a bad spring can produce erratic faults. Periodically cleaning the contacts on both lens and body with De-Oxit Gold is a good idea anyway to keep everything working as well as possible.

Thanks Merco. 

Sounds like a problem with the VR system. If you turn VR off do you hear the same clicking noise?

 

--Ron

Turning both VR and AF off din't make any difference. The lens subsequently stopped auto focusing altogether - and when it did the clicking stopped too. I sent it in to Nikon for repair. I wish I had tried cleaning it up first, as Merco_61 suggested but didn't think of it. I wish it's something as simple as that because these repairs can be costly. Thanks.

Hello all,

I have a Nikkor 16-85 VRII lens which has been working flawlessly for 7 years. Currently it is mounted on a D7200. Last week it had trouble focusing, started screeching and came to a halt. Switched the camera off and on and gave it another go. It worked fine again. Tonight I noticed the lens making four clicking sounds when I turn the camera on while the image vibrates with every click. Lens clicks again when switched off. Other than that it works fine. 

I coupled another lens on the camera and no problem. I fixed the 16-85 on another body and it clicks on that one as well. So it's clearly a lens issue. Any ideas anyone?

Many thanks